NYC asks state to OK speed cameras, including those for Staten Island

"Just as red light cameras reduced infractions at intersections where they were installed, we anticipate that speed cameras will result in greater compliance with posted speed limits," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.AP photo

New York City called on the state Monday for "swift authorization" to use speed-camera enforcement for the first time on streets with public schools with a documented speeding history.

Nine Staten Island school locations show a high incidence of speeding vehicles within a quarter-mile of school grounds -- including PS 60, Graniteville, with a 100 percent rate; Tottenville High School, with a 97 percent rate, and New Dorp High School, with a 92 percent rate, according to the city Department of Transportation.

DOT said that while 2012 statistics show a "historic low" in traffic fatalities, they indicate that speeding was the "single greatest factor."

Citywide, there were 274 traffic deaths in 2012.

There were 18 road fatalities on Staten Island in 2012, according to DOT, including eight occupants of motor vehicles, seven pedestrians, two motorcyclists and a bicyclist.

Of those, "five of the fatalities had speeding listed as a contributing factor, which tracks with the citywide average," said DOT spokesman Nicholas Mosquera.

Citywide, the NYPD issued 1 million moving violations last year, according to DOT, 71,000 of them for speeding.

State legislation is required for the city to install speed enforcement cameras.

The city is authorized to use 150 red-light cameras citywide, which DOT said has "led to dramatic reductions in instances of red-light running and violations issued at locations where they have been installed."

"The streets around our city's schools are real speed traps," DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said in a statement.

"Just as red light cameras reduced infractions at intersections where they were installed, we anticipate that speed cameras will result in greater compliance with posted speed limits," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

"The streets around our schools should be safe, but we have to work together to make it happen," said Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. "I applaud these efforts to reduce speeding near our schools."